NEW Official Site Suggestion Thread - Cincinnati Sports Forums

Franny · #1 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 08:32 PM

Guys,

I soft deleted the old thread so it should only be accessable to moderators. There is no need to have EVERYONE see the business arangements of this site. I hope we can now use this thread to send suggestions and comments to me.

As far as coming up with a partnership plan/rev share, I am interested. I think we should all meet for beers or perhaps Chicken Wings sometime soon and toss out some ideas. I'm particulary interested people's plans to get outsiders to join the forums. I have this fear that we create good/funny content in the articles that people read but people don't sign up for forums. We can discuss all this OFFLINE. Please do not respond to that topic here.

Once I get things organized I will setup a VIP forum for just moderators.

Tedesco · #2 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 10:11 PM

I say chicken wings on Sunday! Boo ya!

JMart · #3 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 11:10 PM

I'd contribute there if I were a moderator...

Tedesco · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 11:32 PM

Quit your bitching! You'll be a moderator when you can prove you can sleep one week without wetting the bed! Gah!

shantyman · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 08:58 AM

Just to add my 2 cents about the site-

I was somewhat disillusioned yesterday as there seems to be no plan. It's a great setup, but no one seems to know what to do. Like it or not Chris, you need to delegate some work. I know White Magic and I were harping about he business side but saying "what can you do for me" is somewhat odd. Who is going to moderate which forum? What do you expect of Moderators? How can we post to the blog with full powers? I know this is a lot on your plate, and this is a beta phase so to sepak but I just wanted to make the points.

Chris, you once said you thought it would be somewhat like deadspin. This lead me to believe:

Most of what the site "leaders" will be doing is posting in the blog on the main page. IMHO, as I have stated before, there should be one blog with the different "voices" of the site posting to it. Eventually, after some time a reader of the site would be able to tell the difference between posters, eg

Crass post- One T
Hockey Post- Tedesco!
Hair Post- Shanty
Cheap post- Chris
Etc. etc.

I am sure after some time other writers would be added if the site became very successful.

The forum's aim is to be the main place for true Cincy sports fans to discuss the stuff going on around here- perhaps, an alternative to Lance's forums for example or the cheap ESPN.com forums. I strongly disagree with them being anything like the SH forums, which became a meeting place for us and 6 other Kings' graduates. I'm sure others agree with me on this point. God bless the SH forums, but there is not appeal in it for, say, a random person to post in there. They would never know what the heck was going on.

The other sections would be the ones that indulge us some- sportshair, DH faces, etc.

Am I on the right track at all here? I hope this does not come across as overly negative. I just want the site to be great too.

Franny · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 09:04 AM

I hear ya Shanty....

Scot brought up a good point yesterday about the sort order on the main page. He was going to submit a 2nd article but realized a lot of the attention would be lost to his first one because it would be pushed down on the page. I agree with this and we should take this into consideration but we also need to keep the site fresh. Not as fresh as Deadspin (that guy is updating on the hour now) but something people want to check frequently.

For now please send articles to me through email with your photos. I am still working on allowing images through that front end interface but it won't be until late this week when I have a lot of time to focus on it. Plus the utility ruins the formatting of your article. So just send them to me through email. Admin tool is coming!

Tedesco · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franny

He was going to submit a 2nd article but realized a lot of the attention would be lost to his first one because it would be pushed down on the page.

This is why I suggested seperate blog pages for the main contributors. Too many blogs clutters the main page anyway. If we all had a seperate page, we could all post without fear of whatever it is that we write getting lost in the shuffle. Then, all we would need is something to signify that a new post has been made. I think that would fix a lot of simple issues.

White Magic · #8 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 06:57 PM

What would go on the main page? Buttons with names like "Shantyman" and "White Magic"?

bigkev · #9 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 08:41 PM

How can I become an investor for this site? It is a very good idea and I want to be involved.

Franny · #10 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 08:45 PM

Wire Transfer the Administrator $150,000.00 US and he will offer you a 10% stake.

J/K - We're tossing ideas around, we'll have to meet for Chicken Wings soon. Not sure if I can make the ShantyBaby party yet but I'll be around the Nati most the weekend.

Tedesco · #11 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 08:50 PM

How does Sunday sound to you? Everyone?

bigkev · #12 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 09:00 PM

I could contribute my accounting skillz to the entity as well, unless Mrs. Franny would want to do it.

I wish I had 150k right now with us trying to buy a house. As I am out of town, phone, email or this site are my only ways I could discuss financial/business details with everyone.

You should really try to go to this baby thing. I will bring beer to this party, just like the good old 30 pack Hot Streak practices.

bigkev · #13 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 09:02 PM

I will be coming back to WV on Sunday.

Tedesco · #14 (**permalink**) 02-21-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by White Magic

What would go on the main page? Buttons with names like "Shantyman" and "White Magic"?

I would suggest that the front page be as simple as possible. I really like how the side panel is set up. I would suggest maybe a few headlines from Cincinnati.com or ESPN.com (or something to that effect), something simple. In my mind, the main page should be the jumping point to the other avenues offered by the website.

I think the blogs section should be given it's own button in the top panel with the rest of the sections (links, fun stuff, etc...) That link will take you to a page that has links to each separate blog page, with each link have some indicator as to whether or not the blog has been updated (I'm sure a simple "updated on..." would do the trick) That way we each have a separate forum to voice our special views on sports or whatever, without junking up the front page or running the risk of offending certain viewers (as I am sure, when this site really takes off, there will be under 18 viewers)

I know I am pushing the blogs page, but I guess I can't help it. The front page is too busy. In my mind, a blog is something more than a couple of paragraphs. Right now most of what is posted on the front page is excellent forum material, but maybe not blog material. Along with the blogs (which could change at a moment's notice as everyone has the opportunity to post) there are the chat sections, which might seem like a good idea, but again take away from the main discussion area: the forums. There's also the comments for the blogs, which could again be made into separate forum threads; enabling all to read the thread, and perhaps driving traffic to the blogs.

I don't think I could contribute to a blog in it's current form. I write way too much, and I really would have no interest in editing myself for space reasons. I could post little stories about Reds games and such, but I would really want to expound my thoughts, possibly add pics as well (I'm planning a spring training and opening day entry)

Again, these are just my opinions. I'm not basing it off of anything except of what I like in forums. I'm an active member of about 8 forums, so I've comapred what I like about them, and I make my suggestions. I actually have a bunch of ideas, but I'll save the rest for if/when we meet.